Can this really be in the kid's head?

Posted by Marge on June 09, 1999 at 04:02:06
  We have seen a Ped., a Nuro, and a Pschiatrist. I have read about conversion disorder and memory and also about MS. We have just met with a doctor in our HMO for a second opinion. The one thing that he said after reading everyone's notes is that they all say "the patient does not seem that stressed about the situation" so they have agreed with the nero and written it off to conversion disorder. In the next breath he said, "You'd be surprised what the mind can do."
  I tend to think the mind is having a little help from the mylin sheaths being destroyed, but I want to know if all these symptoms are really possible for one 15 year old boy who just got his drivers permit, just recieved his Boy Scout Eagle Award, planned on (and had the money to) spend every Fri. night snow boarding, and had a 3.2 GPA and 2 parents and no real problems except medication for ADD and zoloft for depression(2 yrs.). He deals with depression by crying, not acting out and says 'It's all good." a lot.(Guess he should have gotten angry for the nuero.)
    He started losing his balance in Jan. (eventually stoped snowboarding because he got so tired - we did not push the desision, it was his), it got so bad that he asked for grandpa's old wheelchair to use at home. For four months it has only gotten worse. He developed a tremor in his right side that shows when he picks up a cup etc. He is very confused about where we are in the car and does not want it to go fast. -he no longer gets to drive.  He has so much short term memory loss that the tutor the shcool had sent when he went to the wheelchair full time (because of balance and fatigue)could no longer work with him. In 2nd yr algebra as a Freshman he can no longer to multiplication past the 4's. he asks 'What day is it" continually and can't rember that he has eaten a meal. I have to make him get off the toilet to see that he has gone because he forgets before he can even finnish urinating.
When he closes his eyes his body jerks so he has to have someone there to make him try to go to sleep- otherwise he lays there with his eyes open to keep the jerk from occuring. He keeps saying the first sound of a word over and over trying to think of the rest of the word - I don't know if that is stuttering, it isn't in his throat. Sometimes he is so bad, he just stares into space and you can't get his attention unless you shake him or break the visual thing by waving your hand in front of his eyes.
  The only tests have been an MRI done when there was only one symptom in Jan. and an EEG showing no electrical siezures. He is only on 150mg. of Zoloft.
Wouldn't there have to be some trama to make all this happen?
He expresses anger that he cannot be out with his friends or go to camp this summer or drive the car. Girls will still call him but he doesn't want to call them back - mostly because he doesn't remeber they called. We have not made this easy for him but it is very hard on all of us. Because of his confusion he needs full time care. I'm just having a hard time believing all this can happen and not be real. Could it? - Thanks
Posted by HFHS M. D- HG on June 13, 1999 at 20:20:08

Dear Marge
It must have been hard for you to handle the situation of your son. He seems to be having  many physical problems which may be caused by several reasons, both medical and psychological. It would be impossible to diagnose your son without a neurological examination, there are symptoms which sound neurological and some that sound psychological. The lack of an identifiable neurological cause, does not mean that the symptoms are psychological in etiology. A second opinion from a neurologist and psychiatrist would be helpful to make the diagnosis and treatment plan.  
Conversion disorder is a disorder characterized by the presence of one or more neurological symptoms (for example paralysis, blindness, sensory symptoms, jerks, tremors, weakness etc. ) that can not be explained by a known neurological or medical disorder. In addition, the diagnosis requires that the psychological factors be associated with the initiation or exacerbation of the symptoms. Depressive and anxiety disorder symptoms can often accompany the symptoms of conversion disorders.   For more information on conversion disorder, you may refer to " Synopsis of Psychiatry" by Kaplan and Sadocks - 8 th  edition.
For a confidential evaluation, you may call Henry Ford Hospital at 248-689-7476. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace the evaluation by a physician.
Key words: Conversion disorder